View source for Richard P. Bellaire



[[File:Richard%20P.%20Bellaire.jpg|left|thumb|''[[Adirondack%20Daily%20Enterprise|Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]''|, May 7, 1985 ]] [[File:Richard%20P.%20Bellaire%20-%20Joffe.jpg|right|thumb||Dr. Richard P. Bellaire, portrait by [[Sarah%20Joffe|Sarah Joffe]]|, [[Adirondack%20Medical%20Center|Adirondack Medical Center]]| ]]

'''Born:''' November 28, 1914

'''Died:''' May 6, 1985

'''Married:''' [[Louise%20Bellaire|Louise Merkel Bellaire]]; [[Alice%20Bellaire|Alice Garwood Munn Bellaire]]

'''Children:''' David R. Bellaire, and Mrs. [[Jean%20B.%20Kivlen|Jean B. Kivlen]]; and stepchildren [[John%20Munn%20Jr.|John Munn Jr.]], [[Michael%20Munn|Michael Munn]], [[Garwood%20Munn|Garwood Munn]] and [[James%20Munn|James Munn]], Mrs. JoAnn Fountain and Mrs. Marilyn Smythe.

'''Dr. Richard P. Bellaire''' was an obstetrician in Saranac Lake for 21 years; he delivered some 2,010 babies.
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''[[Adirondack%20Daily%20Enterprise|Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', May 7, 1985

'''Dr. Bellaire, former SL obstetrician, dies in Batavia'''

BATAVIA - Dr. Richard P. Bellaire, the man who delivered 2,010 babies during his 21 years as an obstetrician in Saranac Lake, died suddenly Monday at Genesee Memorial Hospital in Batavia. He was 69.

He was the "baby doctor" to much of the Tri-Lakes area from 1946 until his retirement in 1967, when poor health forced him to give up his practice here.

In March 1967, Dr. Bellaire was guest of honor at a dinner hosted by the [[General%20Hospital%20of%20Saranac%20Lake|General Hospital of Saranac Lake]] board members, doctors and nurses. The hospital's chief of staff, Dr. [[Donald%20Richter|Donald Richter]], and chairman of the board, [[Hubert%20O%27Connell|Hubert O'Connell]], were among those expressing their gratitude for the doctor's many years of service in the community.

He was closing his office and clinic on [[44%20Church%20Street|Church Street]], the building he had built just five years earlier.

Dr. Bellaire was born Nov. 28, 1914, in LeMars, Iowa, the son of F. Roy and Mary (Ramsey) Bellaire.

Survivors include his wife, Alice Garwood Munn Bellaire of Batavia; a son, David R. Bellaire of Evanston, Ill.; a daughter, Mrs. [[Jean%20B.%20Kivlen|Jean B. Kivlen]] of Onchiota; four stepsons, [[John%20Munn%20Jr.|John Munn Jr.]], [[Michael%20Munn|Michael Munn]], [[Garwood%20Munn|Garwood Munn]] and [[James%20Munn|James Munn]], all of Saranac Lake; two stepdaughters, Mrs. JoAnn Fountain of Malone and Mrs. Marilyn Smythe of Houston, Tex.; two grandsons, Michael and Evan Kivlen of Onchiota; 13 stepgrandchildren; and two step-greatgrandchildren.

Dr. Bellaire was a graduate of Staunton Military Academy in Staunton, Va. and 1935 graduate of Duke University Medical College in Virginia. He was also a graduate of the Medical College of Virginia in 1940 and then served his residency and internship at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

A veteran of [[World%20War%20II|World War II]], he served as a captain in the medical corps of the United States Army from 1941 to 1945.

Dr. Bellaire moved to Saranac Lake in 1946 and began general practice in obstetrics, pediatrics, minor surgery and internal medicine. He retired from that practice in March of 1967, due to poor health.

He moved to Batavia in 1972 and joined the staff of the Batavia Veterans Administration Hospital. He retired from that position in October 1984.

Dr. Bellaire served as director of the Saranac Lake Heart Association, president of the Medical Staff at the General Hospital of Saranac Lake for two years, president of the Franklin County Medical Society for another two years, and president of the New York State Academy of Family Physicians from 1956-57.

He was also on the board of directors of the American Academy of General Practice from 1965-86, was president of the Northern New York Heart Association and a former chairman of the Red Cross Blood Donors Committee.

He was a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and a Fellow with the American Academy of Family Physicians.

An elder of the [[First%20Presbyterian%20Church|First Presbyterian Church]] of Saranac Lake for six years, he was also a three-year member of the Batavia First Presbyterian Church.

He was also Essex County Coroner in 1963.

Calling hours will be held Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the [[Fortune%20Funeral%20Home|Fortune Funeral Home]] in Saranac Lake.

The funeral service will be said Friday at 11 a.m. at the [[First%20Presbyterian%20Church|First Presbyterian Church]] of Saranac Lake, with the Rev. [[James%20Mechem|James Mechem]], pastor, officiating.

Cremation will follow.

Memorial donations may be made to the Heart Fund.

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